472 Cultivation ofGrafiLand. Stocking Paflnrc& What mecflltry ix 



herbage. And it is fuppofedthal fattening ftock only require a full bite on being 

 firft put upon the pafture.* In anfwerto the objection that has been made, that 

 early turning upon paftures expofes them more to the effects of drought in 

 the fpring months, it is faid that it is in a great meafure ill founded, fince cattle 

 rr ilk and thrive well in fuch cafes. &quot; It is not,&quot; Mr. Marfhall remarks, &quot; the 

 length of grafs, but the quantity of nourifhment which it contains, that makes 

 cattle pay for their pafturage.&quot; And it is not fuppofed improbable but that the 

 richnefs of the herbage may in fome degree depend on the fun or heat of the 

 lea Ton. f 



As the ftate of grafs which is the moft favourable to the feeding of the flock , and 

 their expeditious filling themfelves and taking their reft, as well as that of their 

 wafting the leaft pofiible proportion of the food, would feem to be that of a middle 

 degree of growth, it is not improbable but that, that may be the mod proper and 

 advantageous period for breaking the paftures ; the exact time of which muft ob- 

 vioufly be regulated by the nature of the foil, the fituation of the land, and the 

 ftate -of the feafon. From the end of March to the latter end of April, or begin 

 ning of the following month, according to the forwardnefs of the feafon, may be the 

 moft advantageous in the fouthern diftricts, but in thofe of the north it may bede- 

 ferred a week longer or more with benefit. 



In regard to the general eating down of pafture lands there is likewife much dif 

 ference of opinion, fome advifing that it mould be done in as clofea manner as 

 pofiibte, others that this mould never be the cafe. It would feem, however, that 

 the clofenefs or degree of feeding that is the moft proper Ihould be directed by the 

 nature of the grafs and the time at which it is performed, as where the herbage is 

 of the coarfer kind and confumed in the autumnal feafon, it may be done much more 

 clofely than in the contrary circumftances, as fuch forts of grafs muft always be 

 improved by fuch clofe feeding, and no injury can be fuftained at fuch feafons 

 from the roots of the grafTes being left fo much expofed, which would be the cafe 

 j-n the later fpring or early fummcr months, from the conftantly increafing heat at 

 fuch periods. 



The advice that has been given by an intelligent obferver on this fubject may in 

 general be adopted with propriety, which is, to be cautious not to overftock, as by 

 that means great lofs may be fuftained, as cc land when fed too bare is apt to burn 

 in fummer and to be chilled in winter. Befides, the necks of the roots are fo injured 



Marshall s Rural Economy of Yorkfhire, f Ibid. 



